Fortify Project is Nearing Final Steps

The I-40 Fortify project is heading toward its final steps. According to information sent out via the NCDOT’s newsletter, drivers will soon shift to three brand new outside lanes along the 8 ½-mile long project.

In the meantime, you’ll notice a series of interchange ramp closures. Look for more work on ramps along Lake Wheeler Road, Hammond Road and South Saunders Street on almost a weekly basis through the month of March and into April. Traffic shifts will wrap up late spring and early summer. Then, the entire project area will get a final top layer of asphalt, along with permanent lane markings and reflectors. That work, which will require lane closures, will be done at night through the summer.

As a reminder, the speed limit through that work zone is 60 mph. “A large majority of accidents in the project area are a result of someone going too fast for conditions and being unable to stop in time when traffic suddenly slows in front of them,” according to the NCDOT.

More information on the project, including traffic impacts, can be found on FortifyNC.com or follow @FortifyNC on Twitter.